Programs will feature Qatari legends like Khaled Salman, Badr Bilal among others
DOHA: In an era that focuses on customised content, radio has provided flexibility and adapted itself to the tastes of the newer generations of listeners by absorbing newer technologies.
Following these new realities of modern radio, Qatar’s FM 107 Radio has immersed itself to produce a football program that will cater to the vast Asian community in the country.
Ahead of the start of 2022 FIFA World Cup on November 20, FM 107 is all set to broadcast Let’s Go Qatar — a program that is aimed to celebrate the first-ever football World Cup in the country by highlighting Qatari football.
The episodes are based on a series of interviews with Qatari football legends.
This would be first time that a popular FM radio station in the country has embarked on a football programme dedicated to Team Qatar.
“As we approach the FIFA World Cup, Let’s Go Qatar will focus on Qatar football history,” said FM 107 station director Ms Kholoud Al Hemaidi. “FM 107 targets the Asian communities, who mostly speak in Urdu and Hindi. We want them to listen to Qatar football’s amazing history on the radio.”
The 30-episode programme will be broadcasted through FM 107 and on its social media channels from the inaugural day of 2022 FIFA World Cup on 20 November.
The interviews will feature legends like Khaled Salman, Badr Bilal, Adel Mallalah, Ibrahim Khalfan, and Mubarak Mustafa among others.
During these interviews, the footballers from the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s shared their experiences and touched upon Qatar football’s milestones that included Qatar’s first-ever official match which was played against Bahrain in the biennial Gulf Cup in 1970.
Station’s program supervisor Intisar Adam, who conceptualised Let’s Go Qatar, felt the stories of Qatari footballers was long due on radio.
“Asian communities are huge in number in the country. We want them (Asian communities) to understand the rich tradition of Qatari football. That’s how Let’s Go Qatar idea cropped up,” said Intisar Adam.
Qatar Football Association was formed in 1960 and became an official FIFA member three years later.
Qatar’s exploits at the 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship, in Australia, where the Annabis finished second behind West Germany, is still being discussed in the country, which is now recognized as a world-class sporting hosts.
Qatar’s performance in a FIFA-event is widely discussed even today, with the likes of Badr Bilal and Khaled Salman attaining instant stardom not only Qatar but also in the Arab region.
The duo scored three goals each in the tournament, with Salman’s hat-trick against Brazil in the quarterfinals is being analysed almost in every discussion on Qatari football.
Along with their careers, they also spoke on Qatar football’s culture.
Mubarak and goalkeeper Ahmed Khalil, who played at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, are the other big names who feature on the programme. Mubarak scored in Qatar’s 1-0 win against Egypt at the Games while Khalil was the star of Qatar’s maiden Arab Gulf Cup at home in the same year.
Qatar open their campaign against Ecuador in the tournament-opener at the gigantic Al Bayt Stadium on 20 November.
